Boost for coconut farmers as sale of Mnazi set to be legalised
Coast
By
Marion Kithi
| Apr 04, 2026
The government has announced plans to legalise the sale of mnazi, the local coconut brew, in a move aimed at boosting farmers’ earnings and unlocking the sector’s potential, described as a “sleeping giant.”
Officials from the Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI) said a Bill is being drafted to formalise the production, sale and distribution of mnazi and other coconut products.
The initiative seeks to address the challenges faced by coastal coconut producers and traders, who have often faced harassment during crackdowns on illicit brews, despite mnazi being a traditional, locally consumed beverage.
Speaking in Kilifi during a Coconut Producers Consortium training, KIPI Managing Director John Onyango said the proposed law will protect mnazi from the “war on illicit brew.”
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“The government wants a product that meets standards. We want a drink that can be consumed in clubs and sold in shops and supermarkets, so it must be tested and meet consumer standards,” Onyango said.
He added that farmers are being sensitised on the importance of their products and that the law will enable mnazi to reach international markets.
“Without a law, there is no conformity. We want uniformity so that the markets we serve, whether the African Continental Free Trade Area or the European Union, receive standardised products,” he said.
The Nuts and Oil Crops Directorate (Nocd) estimates that coconut produces over 100 by-products with potential to generate more than Sh13 billion annually, equivalent to 0.4 per cent of Kenya’s GDP.
Currently, mnazi accounts for 60 per cent of the crop’s output, nuts 24 per cent, fronds 12 per cent, while brooms and coco wood make up 24 and 0.3 per cent, respectively.
KIPI chairman Allan Kosgey said farmers will also be trained on intellectual property rights, enabling them to protect, commercialise and benefit fully from their coconut innovations.
“The majority of coconut trees are in Kilifi, over 5.5 million, but numbers have been declining. We need a bill to protect our products,” said Coconut Producers Consortium Chairman Dr Mtana Lewa.
He added that many coastal families rely on mnazi sales to provide for their households and educate their children.
Locals insist mnazi is naturally tapped from the coconut tree without additives and should be removed from Kenya’s illicit brews list, preserving both economic potential and cultural identity, particularly for the Mijikenda people.
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